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Gymnast Wrist: Score a Perfect 10 In Recovery

Gymnast Wrist Injury

A common injury suffered by young gymnasts today is due to repetitive strain. It is known as a gymnast wrist injury. The medical term is distal radial epiphysitis. When a gymnast goes out on to the mat, their training is focused on flips and tumbling in which the wrists bear the weight of the body. The growth plates in the wrists can become inflamed or injured from the constant weight and impact. Growth plates aren’t actually bone, but cartilage. They allow space for bone growth as a child matures. Prompt treatment and sticking with the recovery plan is important for proper healing to take place. When left untreated, gymnast wrist can cause the growth plates to not develop properly causing the end of the forearm bone to suffer a permanent growth loss. The injury is identifiable through X-ray but symptoms can be a good indicator. They range from pain to swelling to a reduction in range of motion.

Treatment Options

The first step in treatment for a gymnast wrist is to modify activities that cause the pain. This requires not participating in any activities that allow the wrist to bear weight. Trying to push through the pain to continue training can worsen the condition.

Taking time to rest the wrist and allow it to heal is imperative.

Icing the location of pain can provide some relief from swelling and inflammation.

Anti-inflammatory medication can also help to speed recovery.

Often a wrist brace or cast will be used to immobilize the wrist to keep it from being used while it rests.

Physical therapy can be helpful for gymnast wrist after the period of rest is over. Physical therapy focuses on returning range of motion to the wrist, as well as strengthening the wrist and arm to help prevent future injury.

There are surgical options for treating aggressive gymnast wrist that doesn’t heal with conventional rest therapy.

Prevention Techniques

Once the gymnast is pain free, a return to gymnastics should be slow and gradual.

Focus should be placed on injury prevention.

Using a wrist brace or taping the wrist to give it support is recommended.

Gymnast wrist is a common ailment suffered by young gymnasts. It’s easy to score a perfect ten in recovery by following these treatment steps: Modifying activity, rest, ice, anti-inflammatory control, physical therapy and prevention. They are all steps in the process to get a young gymnast back on the mat.

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